The principal goal of this research project is to evaluate the extent of HCV disease and its treatment in coinfected IDUs. Research procedures will focus on determining liver disease prevalence and grade of disease within this population. The investigators will also evaluate if behavioral reinforcement interventions increase the rate of treatment participation and completion.

Subjects receive vouchers based on adherence to clinical visits and HCV medication.

Detailed Description:

The principal goal of this research project remains focused on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs). The recent availability of a novel, non-invasive method of measuring HCV disease stage makes it possible to test the relationship of HCV disease stage and the management of coinfected IDUs with adequate precision. The investigators will apply the innovative technology, elastography (FibroScan®) to ask whether the marked differences in the final disease outcome, end-stage liver disease (ESLD), can be explained by a measure of liver stiffness as assessed by elastography (FibroScan®). While advances in non-invasive disease assessment are critical to HCV management, the greatest challenge to improving HCV treatment effectiveness in coinfected persons remains low rates of treatment uptake and adherence, even when freely accessible. In response to this glaring disparity, the investigators will test potent behavioral reinforcement interventions to improve the management of HCV disease by adapting a rigorously studied contingent behavioral incentives program to the treatment to coinfected IDUs. Hepatitis C Treatment Eligibility: To determine the population prevalence of significant liver disease in coinfected IDUs using an innovative, non-invasive methodology (transient elastography, FibroScan®) to measure liver stiffness. Liver Disease Staging: To test the hypothesis that liver stiffness, assessed by a novel, non-invasive methodology, is predictive of the development of ESLD, defined as hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular cancer, and liver-related death, in coinfected IDUs. Hepatitis C Treatment Incentives: To test the hypothesis that a contingent behavioral reinforcement intervention will effectively increase the proportion of coinfected IDUs who initiate, attend, and complete HCV treatment.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

History of substance abuse

Reactive HCV antibody

Reactive HIV antibody

Exclusion Criteria:

For the treatment arm, HCV treatment eligible defined by the absence of an absolute contraindication to HCV treatment:

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01448915